Gladys Knight, Dr Oz, Dr Phil, Barbara Walters, Ellen DeGeneres and Celine Dion were amongst the stars who honoured Winfrey, who accepted her award via a pre-recorded message from the Oprah Winfrey Show studios in Chicago.

The View co-host Walters said: "Oprah, we are always getting asked to present each other with awards... now, you are getting the Crystal Pillar award because of your enormous contribution to daytime television. In this, you are unique and unsurpassed."

DeGeneres - who won the 'Outstanding Talk Show (Entertainment)' prize for the second year in a row - said: "The thing I love about you the most is that you don't just stand up for women's rights and civil rights, you stand up for human rights."

Dr Phil added: "You have been great, and I look forward to so many more years of me and you."

Winfrey paid tribute to her team in her message, describing the show as "a phenomenon that none of us could have imagined in our wildest dreams".

She added: "None of this would have been possible without the support of the best team in television."

Knight opened the tribute with a performance of 'That's What Friends Are For', while Dion performed her 1996 hit 'Because You Loved Me' via live video link from Caesars Palace.

CBS soap The Bold and the Beautiful won four major awards at the ceremony including 'Outstanding Drama Series'.

Showrunner Bradley P Bell, who dedicated the award to his father William, said: "To have three 'back-to-back-to-back' Emmys is just over the top. We are so grateful."

The Bold and the Beautiful shared the award for 'Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team' with The Young and the Restless. Its stars Scott Clifton and Heather Tom were honoured in the 'Outstanding Younger Actor In A Drama Series' and 'Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series' category respectively.

General Hospital's Laura Wright received the prize for 'Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series'. She said: "This has been 20 years of the best career ever, thank you so much."

She also thanked her family and executive producer Jill Farren Phelps in her acceptance speech.

The award for 'Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series' went to Michael Park from As the World Turns.

Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak and Jeopardy! presenter Alex Trebek were honoured with lifetime achievement awards at the ceremony, which was hosted by Wayne Brady.